Celebrating 40 YEARS OF THE THORN BIRDS!

SECRETS FROM BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE SWEEPING MINISERIES

Love. Unattainable. Forbidden. Forever. Those were the words once used to sell the epic TV adaptation of The Thorn Birds – and there’s no question that the illicit affair between Meggie Cleary and Father Ralph (as played by Rachel Ward and Richard Chamberlain) captivated the world, and still does!

Based on the 1977 novel by the late Australian writer Colleen McCullough, the four-part phenomenon became the second-highest rated miniseries after Roots when it premiered in the US in March 1983 – a record it holds to this day.

For Australian fans, the series is best remembered as where leading lady Rachel fell in love with her now-husband, local heart-throb Bryan Brown.

Despite the book largely being set on a fictional New South Wales sheep station, Bryan was the only Australian-born actor to have a major role in the US production. Cast as Meggie’s no-good and abusive husband Luke, Bryan fondly recalls the moment he first met Rachel, now 65, on set.